Rocking Chair

by Ruth Yarrow, Michael Dylan Welch, and Emiko Miyashita

First published in Mariposa 37, Autumn–Winter 2017, page 30. Winner of an honourable mention in the 2016 Haiku Poets of Northern California Rengay Contest, judged by Tanya McDonald. Originally written on 14 October 2008 at Café Flora in Seattle, Washington.

the rocking chair’s

rhythmic squeak—

the baby finally burps Ruth

the museum chair

with missing wickerwork Michael

the chair he sits in

talking about torture—

his face shaded Emiko

from a deep armchair

grandma struggles to stand Ruth

our highchair

boxed back up—

endless rain Michael

a telephone cord stretched

to the love seat Emiko